On 8/9, the Hope Foundation and sponsors, in collaboration with the Hung Son Commune People's Committee (UBND), inaugurated lunch kitchens at the Ariing and Ki'nonh campuses of the Axan Tr'hy inter-commune preschool.

The project was completed after two months of construction, replacing the old tin-roofed kitchens with outdated and damaged equipment, which primarily used firewood for cooking.

Also on 8/9, the school and sponsors prepared the first lunch of the 2025-2026 school year for students at both campuses. The menu included rice, eggs, shrimp, fish, vegetable soup, and yogurt and fruit for dessert.

The sponsors also painted a mural at the new Ariing campus kitchen, creating a lively and engaging space for the students.

The new 25 m2 kitchens feature designated areas for food storage (dry and frozen), preparation, and cooking, with ample natural light and ventilation from numerous windows.

They are fully equipped with cooking and food preparation appliances, including industrial gas stoves, sinks, preparation tables, rice cookers, pots and pans of various sizes, refrigerators, water purifiers, and dish racks.

To mark the inauguration, the sponsors donated 160 gift packages, including backpacks, colored pencils, milk, and snacks, to students at all three campuses.

Each kitchen will serve lunch to 40 to 80 students. The total cost of construction and equipment for both kitchens is nearly 550 million VND.

Nguyen Thi Trang, the school principal, explained that the school, established in 2013, previously lacked lunch kitchens in the village campuses. This hampered the implementation of a two-session school day and impacted the children's health. "The construction of these two new kitchens at Ariing and Ki'nonh has been a long-held dream for both the school and the parents," she added.

Most students in Hung Son Commune are Co Tu. The community relies on farming, and many families face economic hardship.

Only three out of nine campuses at the Axan Tr'hy inter-commune preschool have kitchens. Students at the other campuses must bring their own lunch or return home to eat.

In addition to building the kitchens, De Heus Vietnam also sponsored renovations at the Aro campus of Lang Preschool in Tay Giang Commune and provided a year's worth of nutritional support for the students there.

Nguyen Thu Thuy, De Heus Vietnam's Director of Sustainable Development for Asia & Vietnam (second from the right), shared that student nutrition is a key focus for the company. She expressed hope that the projects at the three campuses in Hung Son and Tay Giang communes would alleviate challenges for teachers, ensure adequate care for students, and provide peace of mind for parents.

The school nutrition project is part of the School Light program run by the Hope Foundation. This program aims to improve educational conditions and enhance the health of students, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas. Readers can support the program here.

Vy An